Moment parking officers slap ticket on car left abandoned in blizzard

14 March 2023 , 13:09

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Moment parking officers slap ticket on car left abandoned in blizzard

This is the cold-hearted moment that parking officers slapped a ticket on a car which had been abandoned in blizzards last week.

The two traffic wardens continued to dish out the fine in Bradford, West Yorkshire, despite being criticised by a bystander who filmed them on his phone.

The same resident also shared a warning to motorists on social media.

He wrote: "If you abandoned your car on Sandy Lane they are out ticketing them. Absolutely shocking. Bradford - City of Vulture."

The driver is thought to have ditched their car in heavy snow covering the road, hence making them unaware that they were parked on double yellow lines.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

The footage triggered a backlash amongst residents after being shared on social media (Ben Lack-YappApp)

Less than 24 hours after it melted, the traffic wardens were spotted going from car to car and logging details for fines.

Footage showed the wardens ignoring the cameraman, who works at a nearby garage.

As they continued to pay him no attention, he said: "It's absolutely disgusting what you are doing."

The footage triggered a backlash amongst residents after being shared on social media.

Many were angry that the road had not been gritted, and said the person fined should refuse to pay.

One wrote: "If they had gritted the road they would not have got stuck."

A bystander filmed the traffic wardens dishing out the fine in Bradford, West Yorkshire (Ben Lack-YappApp)

Another commented: "Owners of the cars need to appeal the tickets, as there were no double yellows in view at the time as the snow was covering the road and there are no signs to say 'no parking'."

A third said: "Owners of the cars need to appeal the tickets, there were no double yellows in view at the time as the snow was covering the road and there are no signs to say no parking."

A fourth posted: "Don't pay the ticket.. all go to court and stand in protest. Absolutely disgusting!"

And another added: "Appalling."

Weather maps forecast 750-mile blizzard dropping three inches of snow next week

A Bradford council spokesperson said: “One penalty charge notice was issued to a vehicle parked on a double yellow line at 2.10pm on Saturday 11 March on Wilsden Road. The recipient has since paid this fine.

"At the time this PCN was issued there was no snow where the vehicle was parked and traffic was moving freely. This vehicle had clearly not been abandoned in the snow. 

"The majority of the snow fell overnight last Thursday (9 March), leaving a covering into Friday morning, which made travel difficult. 

"However, by Saturday afternoon most of this had melted away, which meant cars and other vehicles could be driven safely."

Mark Branagan